Given warns new Villa teammates of West Ham barrage

Given says Villa new boys Ron Vlaar, Karim El Ahmadi and Brett Holman are in for a culture shock in east London at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

He told the Mirror: "I know what is coming, because I have played against teams of Sam Allardyce before and even played for him.

"He is quite direct how he plays.

"Some of our new signings haven't played in the Premier League and, coming from Holland [Vlaar and El Ahmadi have been signed from Feyenoord, Holman from AZ Alkmaar], it is going to be a bit of a baptism of fire.